Okay I'll be honest with you, I had a block. This is a big scene in this fic and I just couldn't get it right. Then yesterday I burst with words, so there are probably a few mistakes but my work always is. Anyhow sorry for taking so long and thanks to those who are still reading. FMA isn't mine.
Her body continued to tremble as her plan was ready to unfold. She had tied the bed covers to the door handle and the bed frame, hopefully giving her enough time to make her escape. If she had been in a calmer state she probably would have thought it through and noticed the fault. But she had no time to really think about what she was doing anymore; she wanted out.
Taking deep breaths she lifted up the chair and pointed the legs at the vulnerable glass. She listened again for any sounds outside her door. After hearing nothing she wound herself up and charged at the window.
'How could I have been so stupid? Of course the one person who would want to hurt us is Dante.'
'But brother we thought she was dead. Rose said Dante and Gluttony just vanished after you had gone. Stop blaming yourself.'
'He's right Fullmetal. You can blame yourself afterwards. Right now you have to go find Miss Rockbell.'
He didn't need to be told twice. Right after his conversation with Rose he had pulled himself together and got ready to go right away. His brother was right by his side and now the military had appeared, or to be exact Mustang had. Edward wanted to take his leave there and then but his temper had got him into trouble before. No matter how much his heart told him to get moving he listened to his brain this time around. Whatever Dante had planned for Winry it was unlikely she was going to try and harm her too much. If it was a similar situation to what happened to Rose Dante was merely using Winry to gain access to him. His heart began to pound with adrenalin as he now knew where he would have to go to find Winry. Locking eyes with his brother one last time to speak a secret language only they knew they headed for a very well known forest.
'Are you sure she will be there Fullmetal?'
'Of course I'm not entirely sure, but I'm not pausing to think about it any longer.'
She held her winded stomach with a blooded hand and forced herself back to her feet. The chair had easily smashed through the window but she had not anticipated the effect the impact would have on her. She had precious little time to completely recover so she staggered to the window and tried to ignore the small shards of glass imbedding themselves into her foot. As she climbed up onto the sill the door slowly began to open and her panic reached its peak. With utter desperation she grappled with the vines and finally hauled herself out into the fresh air. The pain in her hands and feet were intense but the adrenalin kept the real pain at bay. The vines tore at her dress but still she crawled down the side of the wall like a freed animal. She had not realised that the vines contained vicious thorns, but then much of this plan had been floored. She began to feel she may not escape after all but that trying could not hurt her. Her cuts would mostly heal but it would be a while before she got the chance to rest. She heard movement in the room above but she dare not avert her eyes skyward for fear of seeing that damn creature tearing down after her. A cry escaped her lips but she did not stop her frantic race for freedom.
'Gluttony likes the smell of your blood,' came a cry from above.
Her panic had made her clumsy and that last call had finally done it. As she went to grasp for another vine she missed. In what seemed like slow motion she fell backward and all the way to the ground where she landed with a solid thump. Luckily for her she had only fallen far enough to be winded but it caused her to look up. With the ease of an ape Gluttony crawled down the very vines that had helped her to her escape.
Once again she forced her weakened body up no matter how hopeless escape now seemed. She ran across the stone and cried out at the pain in her bleeding feet overwhelmed her. She was no longer moving on any sense as all she was doing now was survival instinct. Sadly the days of no exercise and no eating had taken its toll and she could go no further. She fell into the nearest patch of grass and cried pitifully. She was sure her life was now at its end and she cried for all she had not done. She was barely an adult but her time was coming to a close. She had not run her own business, she had not owned her own house, she had not fallen in love or had any children.
And it was all that fault of the Elric brothers. If they had even tried to rescue her she would never have ended up like this. She cried out again but this time in anger. With new vigour she pushed herself up to her hands and knees. For some reason the creature had not reached her but she did not look back. A most foul smell crossed her nose and she vomited all that was within her but still she pushed forward. Her wretched attempts at escape would continue until she was well and truly caught and that would not be far off now. Closing her eyes she closed of all senses and carried on crawling across the softest surface available.
Something grabbed her wrist and she was forced to open her eyes. Through blurred and teary vision she could not see what was holding her clearly but she felt how cold and clammy it was. As she weakly tried to pull away she saw what the hand was attached to. Her vision didn't need to be clear. The smell was coming from the rotten corpse of an old woman, half a corpse to be exact. The empty socket stared directly at her and she screamed louder then any creature ever had done before her. Before her world fell dark she heard the voice of Isabelle in her ear but not a word came through.
Something felt pleasantly warm on her cheek. Through closed eyes she could see a bright light and for a fleeting moment she believed herself to be dead. Then a thousand needles of pain stabbed at her hands and feet and she was awake. As her eyes snapped open she realised she was very much alive and still sprawled out on the ground. She was damp with morning dew and blood and even the morning sun could not stop her shivering. For some moments she tried to calculate what had happened to her last night. She was still lying where she had fell and she was still alive. Surely Isabelle would have done something with her if she knew she was alive. Or perhaps Isabelle knew Winry was too weak to escape now and was leaving her outside hoping death would claim her. All her theories that Isabelle wanted her safe and well had been wrong after all. Winry began to curl into the pitiful ball she had created for herself.
As she tried to pull one arm in she realised it was still caught on something. Looking up she saw the horrific image she had caught last night. The motionless carcass still had one hand grasped around her wrist. Again she screamed with all the power left within her lungs and pulled away as she tried to run from it. Her legs gave way and she fell only a few feet further from the body. It did not move but she still had to keep her mouth shut as to not vomit again. If Isabelle had thought Winry was dead she would know better now and would be on her way. She closed her eyes and once again waited for death as she heard footsteps run toward her across the gravel. She passed out again as a strong pair of hands took hold of her.
They heard the blood-curdling scream break through the morning mist. Although he had tried not to fear the worst his pace increased dramatically. His brother managed to remain by his side but Mustang fell back. He called out her name but there was no response so he just kept on running. Finally the ground fell level and he could see a figure on the gravel. Her body was torn and her golden hair was matted with blood. Dreading what could be he gathered Winry up in his arms and felt for a pulse. His own heart began to beat again as he realised hers was too.
'Brother, what happened to her?'
He looked up at his brother but could not provide an answer to his question. He did not know how or why but for the time being all that mattered was they had found her. He could feel her bones through her skin and she was pale. Her body was cut all over and he pulled a few of the leaves out of her hair. He could see the streaks that tears had left on her face and he held back his own. Finally he knew how Winry had felt each time she had seen him hurt. He mentally urged her awake but she did not stir. He held her closer, not enough to hurt her more but enough to pass some of his warmth on to her.
'What made her scream?'
Ed was going to reply but the Colonel got in there before him.
'I would hazard a guess at that.'
When he had first found the body of what was Dante he had felt sick to his stomach. In his panic for Winry he had failed to notice the rotting corpse sticking up from out of the ground. It looked like half of the body and crawled out of the grave they had put it in. The skin was green and maggots crawled around the body. Now his senses returned the smell encased him.
'That's not possible,' Al whispered whilst covering his mouth.
'Either the body had been positioned like that or the matter was animated. It was never alive but it could scare enough. Look at her wrist,' said Mustang.
Edward saw the finger marks around Winry's wrist and the corpse hand in a gripped position. He wanted to figure out what had happened but for now Winry needed to be taken to a hospital immediately.
'Mustang, take Winry back with you, I need to check out this house.'
'Don't be a fool Fullmetal.'
'He's right brother.'
'I'm not leaving here before I find out what's been going on. I won't be long.'
'How do you know this wasn't Dante's plan all along?' Mustang demanded.
Edward picked Winry up and carefully placed her into Mustangs arms. Her face showed all the distress she had been through and anger burned within him. If it wasn't for him Winry would never have got caught up in his mess. He hadn't seen her for two years and now he had to see her like this.
'It probably was. I would hate to disappoint her by not making an appearance.'
'I'm coming with you brother.'
'Al it isn't safeā¦'
'I'm mad too, why can't I exact my revenge as well.'
Ed sighed as he saw himself reflected in his brothers new found determination. His eyes truly did burn with anger but he was not going to get himself caught up in this.
'Are you really going to leave Winry to wake up to this?' Ed answered, pointing to Mustang.
Al bit his lip but nodded as Mustang held back any remark he was tempted to make. Seeing the poor girl beaten and blooded in his arms melted his heart as well as angering him too.
'Very well Fullmetal, but make sure she can wake up to you too.'
Edward smile and nodded. After taking one more painful look at Winry he headed into the fateful mansion.
